Not a big blogging week for me, as I was caught up in mommy stuff and marketing stuff, all the while trying to push through these freaking sinus headaches which have been clobbering me on a daily basis. I'm tired of swallowing pills to fix it, as I know that's going to catch up with me and it's not going to be good. I'm trying to work up the courage to try acupuncture.
Did I mention that I used to faint at the sight of a needle? Sometimes I didn't even need to
see the needle, just think about it, and the world went dark. Years ago I went for hypnotherapy and actually got past it. But there are still enough traces of it for the thought of acupuncture to make me whoozy.
Anyway, there's a long list of things I could continue to whine about, but I'll spare you. Herewith my bullet list of news and announcements:
I had the honor of blind-judging the first annual 666 Flash Fiction Contest for Edifice Wrecked. Once I understood that it didn't mean I had to read the stories in Braille, I had a blast. Congrats to all the talented winners: 1st Place, Kristen Tsetsi; 2nd Place, Tania Casselle; 3rd Place, Marion de Booy Wentzien; 4th Place, Patricia Parkinson; 5th Place, Susan O'Neill; 6th Place, Jason Shaffner. I only got to read the ten finalists, and they were all excellent. I understand all the entries were outstanding and it was tough for the editors to pick their favorites. So kudos and thanks to all who entered.Reminder to my Long Island friends: This Thursday (10/26) I'm going to be at the Barnes & Noble in Huntington Station at 7:30, doing a reading and signing. I hope you'll join me and bring lots of friends!This week I got some love on the blogosphere, which makes me one happy writer. Seems my website contests for teachers and parents are attracting some attention. I got a nice plugs from the good folks at Trashionista, This Next, and A Bookworm's Diary. Huge thanks, cyber pals!!Not that I obsessively check my Amazon ranking or anything (cough), but the other day I clicked into the page and had a total panic attack. Amazon said my book was no longer available and could only be bought through third party sellers. WHAT??? A normal person might have assumed it was a glitch in the system. An insane, twisted, paranoid, insecure lunatic goes into meltdown mode. She has visions of HarperCollins finally deciding she's a total fraud who never should be been published in the first place, and without warning recalling all her books and burning them. Turns out Amazon had system problems, and a lot of books had that same message. Anyway, it's fixed now. So if you're one of thousands and thousands of eager readers who tried to purchase "Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA" on Amazon this week, please try again.If you bought the book or are planning to and would like a personalized signature from me, I'll be happy to send you a signed adhesive bookplate you can stick to the inside front cover. Just drop me a line telling me who to make it out to, and enclose an SASE. Send it to: Ellen Meister, PO Box 52, Hicksville, NY 11802-0052.Good luck to my darling E. who's competing in the middle school spelling bee today!
6 comments:
Dr. Crocker here...
My wife has suffered from "sinus" type headaches for years. She has finally isolated the problem to sugar intake and the yeast it produces in your body. When she backs off of the sugar she is rarely bothered by the headaches. Just one theory from someone driving a doctor bag without a license. Take it for what it is worth... ;^)
and consider that I was the eighth place finisher in the 666 contest and am still feeling goose bumps at having been brailed by Ellen Meister. I could simply be delirious…
Acupuncture works. I've used it for pregnancy nausea and for pain. It's different (for me) than getting stuck with a hypodermic needle. For one, it doesn't hurt and for another, it just looks, well, different. Right now I'm flat on my back with a herniated disc but acupuncture stopped the downward progression. But if it's not for you, there are other things to try - my husband has had really good luck with avoiding dairy. Feel better soon. Hope E. swept the spelling bee.
Congrats on the 666 contest, Stan! And thanks for the heads up on sugar intake. I'll give that a try. Can't hurt, in any case.
Thanks for the input, Ann. I've heard so many excellent things about acupuncture. And there's a woman practitioner right here in my neighborhood. So maybe ...
Aw, I'm so sorry about the headaches - that's the worst. But the rest of your post really had me smiling...especially the Amazon glitch blurb. Oh, Ellen...you know how I can relate.
Anyway, feel better and I'm hoping this finds E with a trophy.
xo
Rob
Ouch! Sinus headaches are horrid. I hope you feel better. And the Amazon glitch! That would have me FREAKING OUT.
Honored to have you as a judge for the Edifice Wrecked contest! I hope you'll let me know if your tour takes you to the Barnes and Noble in Rochester, NY (specifically, the one in the Greece Ridge Center mall, where I go as often as I can for a Toffee Nut Latte).
- Kristen Tsetsi
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